Why does everybody ignore the fact that you were to eat your own tithe?
Not all of it of course. God told them to also remember the Levites and the poor when they rejoiced in the abundance of God's increase and success. And every third year the tithe was stored up exclusively for the Levite and the poor.
Jethro:
I just want to clarify some points for everyone here about the tithe since you mentioned about eating one's tithe. This is the SECOND tithe. There were 3 tithes. The one that most people are familiar with is what is called the
Levitical tithe. This is equal to the tithe today one supports their pastor and church with. This is the one that everyone here is talking about.
The other tithes many people here seem to be oblivious to, so let me teach a little on that.
The second tithe was the
festival tithe which like you stated was basically to oneself, but was required to share with others as well. This met the needs to celebrate in Jerusalem at the feasts. Actually most people DO keep this tithe already unknowingly, except it takes the form of Disney Vacations and other such pursuits with the family. This tithe does not go to the Levites other than sharing some of it (not specified how much) or in today's terms to the church.
The third tithe was to the poor, but given once every 3 years, so over time this would average to more like 3% of one's income.
The first tithe was 10%, the festival was 10% of the 90% or 9% and the third averaged over time to be about 3%. The Israelites averaged about 22% giving of their income for these specified reasons, almost half of which went to the Levites. So these are not the same tithe. (There were other required offerings like
firstfruits and the
temple tax, but that's another subject. All these offerings were given and then in addition freewill offerings on top of that.)
Again, the Levites always got 10% since they had no inheritance. If you do the math, 10% from each tribe would amount to a little more (on the average) given to the Levites than what each tribe possessed. BUT.... the Levites (equivalent to Christians today) in turn gave 10% to the High Priest. I need not explain the symbolism laid out in Hebrews. The OT are shadows of things to come, and lay out a pattern under Christ. Christ never did away with the Law. But again, if we transgress the Law (and all of us do) then we have an Advocate.